2004 Sandpiper Chardonnay

Comments

This vineyard is located at Mt Crawford (Eden Valley), one of South Australia's consistently coolest grape growing sites. Citrus, lime, sweet melon fruit, with hints of new French oak combine with a creamy lingering finish to create a fine example of this great variety. Inhibiting malolactic fermentation has preserved crisp natural acids which highlight the varietal fruit of this wine.

Vinification Notes

Crushed and de-stemmed then pressed using a membrane press. Pressings kept separate from free run then fined and re-blended back to the free run. Fermented using French yeast at 12-15°C. The ferment was very long and took 5-6 weeks. The light fluffy lees were re-incorporated to the wine and mixed every two weeks to add mouth feel and structure. The wine was racked from lees after five months, filtered and bottled.

Maturation

30% new French oak

Blend

100% Chardonnay

Harvested

Early April 2004

Cellaring

Drinking well now. Maximum cellaring two years.

Tasting Notes